Court refuses to halt Minn. union drive

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal judge has refused to halt a drive to unionize thousands of Minnesota home day-care operators.

In a pair of rulings Sunday, Judge Michael Davis essentially agrees with state Solicitor General Alan Gilbert that the pair of lawsuits seeking to halt the unionization effort were filed prematurely. Davis dismissed both cases and refused to impose a preliminary injunction on a new law allowing the drive.

Democrats who control the Legislature approved the union-organizing drive in May. The GOP has accused legislators and Gov. Mark Dayton of paying back union allies.

The proposed union would cover some 12,700 providers who take care of children subsidized by the state.

Dayton tried to call the union vote through executive order in 2011, but opponents won a state court order invalidating the move.